Monday, June 16, 2014

I'm pretty pissed I'm going to miss this weekend's workshop, but I have a family event to attend out of state. That shouldn't stop you from joining Donovan this Sunday (the 22nd) from 12-3pm to make some magic with the sun. She's getting together with Janessa, the owner of the lovely flower shop Forget Me Knodt, to make some mail art with sunprints and flowers.

Make one-of-a-kind stationery and envelopes from paper you designed harnessing the power of the sun. You provide you imagination and we'll provide all the supplies to make it happen. That's right, flowers, magic paper, booze...we will have it all. All you have to bring is yourself. Please drink an extra one for me!

Monday, May 19, 2014

For a long while now, Donovan & I have been cooking-up some new workshops. These are super hands on classes that are hyper-focused on experimenting with new skills, so we decided to call them Laboratories. Our very first L.W.A. Laboratory is our Mail Art Mastery class coming up on May 25th.

Donovan will be leading this Laboratory, where she'll go over the tips and tricks she has learned in her many years of mail arting. (You can see examples of Donovan's mail art on her Instagram feed.) Both of us will be helping each individual person with their SUPER SECRET Mail Art Project, that we will present to you during the class. We'll have snacks and wine for everyone to munch and sip on while they do their mail art. You'll also go home with a nifty organizational case that will have a bunch of mail art supplies (like washi tape, an envelope template, glue tape, and a vintage paper packet) so you can keep experimenting at home.

So, if you are in Chicago this Sunday (June 25th), sign-up for our brand new Laboratory and get crazy with us in cahoots with some paper and glue. Info and registration below!

Thursday, May 01, 2014

Hey everyone, I've been a bit busy over here with some design work. One of the things I produced recently is this fancy dancy free-standing banner for the Letter Writers Alliance. We wanted something we could easily set-up at fairs or socials. The banner is produced by a local company, Nimlok and I'm liking it so far. I haven't used it for a fill day at a fair yet, but the construction and printing is pretty good quality.

This banner was finished-up just in time because I'm flying out to Portland next weekend to host a social at Crafty Wonderland. If you are in the area, stop by on Saturday the 10th and type, write, or talk letters. I'm going to be at Booth 157 as Letter Writers Alliance. We are doing something a bit different this time around with having a social versus putting together a table full of our products. So, we won't have our normal L.W.A. products, but we will have a bundle of membership kits available.

Friday, December 06, 2013

Want to get your holiday cards done and try some new tricks? Join us on Thursday the 12th for our Holiday Card Workshop over at the West Town Chicago Public Library! All crafty levels are invited to join us in making creative holiday greetings. Materials are supplied and we'll show you how to use them, so expect to leave with a handful cards ready to write and mail. No need to bring anything besides yourself and some creativity.

Send out some holiday joy with handmade cards this season! Here is the workshop info:

West Town Chicago Public Library 1625 W. Chicago Ave.6:30-7:45 pm Free EventRSVP required: Please call to 312-743-0450 or visit the West Town branch to register.More info here.

Hope to see you there, but if you can't make it, share your hoiday mail in the comments!

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

One more chance to grab our stuff in person this year! Come visit 16 Sparrows and Letter Writers Alliance at the Renegade Winter Fair this weekend, December 7th and 8th. We'll be on the 2nd floor over in Booth 133. Sarcastic Holiday Cards, Pigeon Posts, and more of your favorites will be yours for the gifting or hoarding.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Hey all, I'm happy to say that we are part of the inaugural Show of Hands this weekend. We'll have your favorites as well as a few new cards and something very special along a misanthropic line. The vendor list for this show is amazing, so if you are anywhere near Chicago, you shouldn't miss it. Come by and say hello to us in Booth 19!

Monday, September 30, 2013

Has your handwriting fallen by the wayside? Do your pen pals suffer trying to read your letters or does your scribble holding you back from letter writing? Join Donovan & I this Thursday at the West Town Public Library in Chicago. We'll help you get your penmanship fit for correspondence with guided practice and take-home techniques. We'll also have tips and & tricks in how to 'cheat,' like using a light box and pens that make your writing look fancier than it is. All supplies are provided, just bring yourself and hands at the ready.

Thursday, October 3rd6:30-7:45 pmWest Town Library (Chicago Public Library)1625 W. Chicago Avenue | Chicago, IL 60622 Free, please RSVP by calling 312.743.0450 or registering in person at West Town Library.

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Yay, we're at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, September 7th & 8th, from 11AM to 7PM. We're at a corner between Wolcott and Honore, booth number 236.

Not only will we have our Pigeon Post, but we'll also have a gaggle of tuned-up vintage typewriters. Some are so newly tuned that we havne't listed them in the LWA membersite yet, so come and get your paws on one. Look for our air mail striped tent canopy and say hello!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

I mentioned our new custom address return stamp last week and realized I never introduced it to you all. It is an L.W.A. member exclusive. The rubber stamp is personalized not only with your mailing address, but also with your L.W.A. member number. (For those who are curious as to why I am member # 000016 and not 1 or 0: I chose my own number and went with "16" for 16 Sparrows.)

I purposely made the rubber stamp about the size of a postage stamp. This compact stamp size fits perfectly in most pen cases and travel writing kits. Even better, it has a nice size footprint so that you can go crazy with mail art decoration or stamp art without having to be concerned with saving space for your return address. I also found it fits great on postcards.

On top of being on the west coast for the fair, we also worked in some vacation, where I hope we will do some hiking. I'll make sure to take plenty of pictures and report back with the adventures we go through.

Hello!

Kathy here. I'm the history nerd behind this blog as well as one half of the stationery shop 16 Sparrows. I'm also co-founder of the member- based group, The Letter Writers Alliance. If you are new here, check out some of the most popular posts and work your way from there.

write more letters

Dec 6th (Sunday)World-WideVirtual Letter Social3pm-4:30pm Central
Join Kathy and Donovan via live video as we write some letters. This would be a great time to knock some of your holiday cards out while "meeting" some of your fellow members.Event Page

Jan, 10th (Sunday)World-WideL.W.A. Book Club12:30-1:30pm Central
Join Kathy, Donovan, and a special guest via live video while we discuss 'Letters to the Lost,' by Iona Grey. Discussion and further info can be found on the Goodreads book group page.Join us online: Event Page

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